3 Post-Op Best Practices for Taking Care of Surgical Incisions

There are many things on a patient’s mind during surgical recovery. One of the most recurring elements is the surgical incision. Patients need to know how to deal with the surgical incisions during recovery so they can take steps to encourage the body’s natural healing abilities.

In this patient education article we are going to walk through some best practices for taking care of your surgical incision after surgery.

Keep Scratching Your Surgical Scar to a Minimum

Scabs, cuts, and scars can be quite itchy. But scratching your incision can cause irritation, inflammation, and bleeding – which can delay the healing process. Resist the urge to scratch your incision and the area surrounding it. Various salves and lotions can help reduce itchiness.

Change Your Bandages as Necessary

Your surgical incisions will be covered with bandages for the first few days after your procedure. You may experience some bleeding from the incision itself, which is normal. Be sure to check your bandages several times a day and change them when necessary. If the bleeding persists or gets worse over time, contact your surgeon.

Avoid Irritating the Incision

It’s also important that you take steps to avoid irritating your incision. This includes things as simple as how you sit or lie down. Make sure you have a comfortable couch or chair to sit in while you recover. Hard-backed chairs or sitting in slouched positions can irritate the incision.

One of the best things about Inspired Spine’s revolutionary spinal procedures is that they allow the surgeon to make a much smaller incision compared to other surgeries. Smaller incisions mean less pain, faster recovery, and less risk of infection. Contact us today to learn more about these procedures (The Inspired OLLIF and The Inspired MIS-DTIF), or find an Inspired Spine provider in your area.